MMORPG.com writer Bill Murphy recently had the opportunity for a hands-on look at LEGO Universe and its Gnarled Forest. The Gnarled Forest is one of the many 'themed islands' that make up the LEGO Universe. Check out Bill's zone preview!

For those unfamiliar with the gist of LU’s story, the game is set amid a chaotic time during the LEGO people’s existence. One of four explorers on a search for the source of Pure Imagination (yes, I’m singing the Willy Wonka song too) gets sucked into the source upon its discovery, causing a dark Maelstrom of chaos energy to be unleashed upon the entire LEGO Universe. Your role in all this is as a Minifigure called to arms to defend the Universe from the invading forces of the Maelstrom and to find a way to halt its onslaught.